Shank stiffener



vMay29,19; ;9.v RQwRjK 2,159,602

SHANK STIFFNER Filed Mann 20,'1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 23,1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,159,602 sHANK STIFFENER Justin P. Quirk, St. LouisCounty, Mo., assignor to United Wood Heel Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Delaware Application March 20, 1937, Serial No. 131,983

l 2 Claims.

This invention relates to shank stiieners in shoes and particularly tomeans for attaching the stiffener to the heel.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means for anchoringthe rear end of a shank stiffener to a heel, in such a manner as toprevent relative vertical movement between the shank stiffener and theheel while permitting longitudinal movement between the stiffener andthe heel. In accordance with known practice a shank stifener is insertedbetween the insole and outsole of a shoe. If the outsole is extendedrearwardly covering the entire bottom of the shoe, no particularfastening means is required to anchor the fastener to the heel, becausethe fastening members between the insole and outsole may be suicient forthis purpose. But where the outsole does not extend to the full end ofthe heel it is esential that the stiffener be so anchored, In makingthe' last mentioned type, the shoe is bottomed with the outsole and theshank stiifener is put in place before the heel is attached. Accordinglythis invention provides means whereby the heel may be readily insertedin place on the rearwardly exposed end of the shank stiffener, whilerelative vertical movement between the heel and the stiffener isprevented. The advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detail description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

Fig. 1 is a view showing the relationship between ashank stiffener and aheel embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a shoel with the stiffener in place:

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fastening or anchoring member shown incombination in the preceding gures; and

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views corresponding respectively to Figs. 1, 2,3 and 4, but illustrating a modication of the invention; Fig. 5 showingthe relationship between the shank, the fastener and a heel, Fig. 6being a sectional view of a shoe showing the combination embodying theimprovement, Fig. '7 being a section on line 'I-'I in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8being a perspective View of the modified form of fastener or anchor.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 a shank stiffener I ispositioned between an insole 2 and an outsole 3, which are secured to anI upper 4. A heel 5 is employed which, as shown in (Cl. 3G-76) the rearend of the shank stiiener I, permitting the insertion of the rear end ofthe fastener endwise between the bridge and the upper'surface of theheel, by permitting relative longitudinal movement between the fastenerand the heel, while preventing relative vertical movement.

The fastening member 6 comprisesa plate 1 having integrally at each sidedownwardly extending prongs 8 which engage in the material of the heel.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the outsole 3 does not extend to cover theheel portion: of the upper. Thus it will be obvious when the upper,insole and outsole of a shoe are assembled with the shank stiiener I inplace, the rearend of the stiffener will extend outwardly beyond therear edge of the outsole 3. The outsole may stop at the edge of theheel, as specifically shown in Fig. 2, or it may extend rearwardly undera portion of the heel, as shown in my Patent No. 1,857,475, granted May10, 1932. In either case, however, the rear end of the stiffener willextend beyond they rear edge of the outsole.

In order then to form an anchor between the heel and the shankstiffener, the fastener or bridge member 6 is driven into the uppersurface of the heel until the plate 1 is spaced and arranged withreference to the top surface of the heel topermit the insrtion endwiseof the rear end of the s-tiiener. In placing the fasteningmember 6 onthe heel seat, a gauge member may be inserted. beneath the plate I toform a proper space which, after the prongs 8 are driven into place,will be removed.

vThe details of construction of the shoe, such as fastening means ormembers between the upper, the insole and the outsole, and between theheel and the upper, are not shown because these matters which may beleft to the selection of the art and the particular selection is notimportant to the practice of this invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, parts shownwhich are like those shown in the preceding gures are given the samerespective reference numerals. In this case, a shank III is employedhaving a bifurcated end, as best shown in Fig. 5, which provides anendwise groove or slot I I for a purpose which will be presentlydescribed. A fastening member I2 is employed which has a support, bridgeor head I3 secured integrally to a pin or screw member I4, which extendsdownwardly and serves to fasten the member I2 to the heel and to spacethe bridge or plate I3 above the top surface of the heel. The rear endof the stiflener I0 is so arranged that the pin I4 of the fastener I2will pass in the slot l I in the fastener and the fastener will be soarranged on the heel to permit the insertion of the rear of the stilenerendwise between the table or bridge I3 and the heel seat.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the inventionaccomplishes its objects, that an improved combination has been providedwhereby the end of a stiflener extending beyond the rear edge of anupper may be assem bled readily endwise with the heel, With the result,however, that the end of the shank stiffener is securely anchored to theheel and its displacement vertically is prevented. At the same time theiiat top or table of the fastening member doesnot tend to give anydiscomfort to the wearer of the shoe in which it is employed. Variouschanges may be made in the details of construction, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this inventionand parts of the inventionmay be used without the whole.

I claim:

1. In ashoe the combination comprising a heel,

a fastening device on the heel seat having a plate and engaging membersintegral with the plate and extending downwardly from the edges of theplate to engage in the heel and support the plate above the heel seatwith a slot therebetween, and a shank stiffener having its rear endextending through said slot and rearwardly beyond the rear edge of theplate, whereby said fastening device is adapted to receive and pass theend of the stiffener while preventing relative vertical movement betweenthe heel and the stiifener.

2. In a shoe, the combination comprising a heel, a shank stiiener, asupport secured to and spaced above the heel seat providing a throughspace between the support and the heel entirely spanning said stiiener,the stiiener having its 'end extending through said space and rearwardlybeyond the rear edge of the support, whereby said bridged space isadapted to receive and pass the rear end of the stiiener whilepreventing relatively vertical movement between the heel and thestiifener.

JUSTIN P. QUIRK.

